Welcome to... "Micro-Lesson 200" This Micro Lesson takes a look at a common finger-picked pattern in "A Minor" applied within "three string" groups.

One of the most popular ideas used by folk, blues, pop and rock guitarists is the fingerpicked pattern. Songs like "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas and "Landslide" by Fleetwood mac use these picked patterns to articulate the chord changes in the pieces with a more unique manner than as if a standard strumming pattern were applied.

Picked patterns offer guitarists a chance to highlight chord changes in a more unique way than strumming can offer. In this lesson, the picked pattern operates within a three string set. This plucked idea pedals between the more driving repetitive lower note on each down-beat, and an upper tone on the highest string.

This presents a nice contrast that keeps the interior tone of the pattern spaced articulately in between the two outer tones.

This particular example is in the key of, "A Minor," and outlines the harmony of; "Am to Em to F, (as an Fadd2)," and it has a turnaround moving from, "C to G."

The most important thing about learning any finger-picked pattern is memorizing how the pattern flows. Make sure you have the flow of notes memorized, then build the speed and phrasing. This pattern can be performed using the plucking hand's, "index, middle and the thumb." Enjoy!